<p>Now that I am finally on the cusp of graduation - and the cusp of college acceptance (or rejection) - it seems like every paltry 10th of a GPA point suddenly matters. This was hardly the case in my previous years of high school. And now, with my new found perspective, I AM ANGRY.</p>
<li><p>Uneven grading systems. Yes, regional reps take the time to get to know high schools. But do they know that most of my 'B+‘s’ would have been calculated into A’s in public school? Or that even most of my solid ‘B’ level work probably would have earned me an A at the local public high school. This isn’t turning into some private, spoiled kid rant - I know I’m getting a good eduation - but at the moment, I feel like I’m being punished for it.</p></li>
<li><p>Class evenness - Do regional reps know that not all PreCalc classes are created equally? That one teacher is known for giving A’s to students who regularly sleep through class while the other requires hours upon hours of work at night and a C is considered excellent? What about the fact that in my school, general physics is harder than honors or AP physics, minus the weighted GPA boost or the AP recognition?</p></li>
<li><p>Cheating. Yes, cheating is bad at high schools across the country. But at my school, its the kids you’d NEVER expect cheating in the highest level classes due to ignorant teachers. And the admin throws a blind eye to it. So, for being an honest student, what happens? I’m punished for my honesty in the form of class rank. Thanks guys.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sure, to each of these issues, you could just respond, ‘Well, work harder!’ And I know that life isnt always fair. But I’m young and I’m annoyed and I’m complaining because isn’t that what’s expected of teenagers?</p>
<p>yes, and thanks for perpetuating that stereotype, by the way.</p>
<p>but yeah.....life sucks. but don't feel too bad. if we made this thread one where everybody posts the top 3 reasons why their life sux, i think you'd start to feel better. or worse. idk</p>
<p>You raise some good issues. I had some of the same concerns about tough grading by some teachers. I actually went against my instincts and got the teacher who gave me a B to write my rec. In the letter, he teacher said how tough she was, and how a B in her class is like an A anywhere else. My GC chimed in on this too.</p>
<p>Just to comment on the cheating issue,
I think less academically motivated students would cheat if they gave a crap about their grades. Usually, they'll cheat on homework and other assignments but not necessarily tests. At the honors/AP level in my school, kids will cheat, but for the most part, everyone tries to learn from each other, not because they it is their intellectual pursuit but because they want an A in the class (and cheating would be really risky).</p>
<p>i think almost everyone cheats at one point or another. i mean i did it all up till soph year in almost every class...but then i stopped cause it was pointless to risk..but i guess i still "cheat" like on hws, if you consider sharing answers in order to find out what youre doing wrong, cheating.</p>
<p>Everyone has cheated some point during their high school year (whether you believe it or not). </p>
<p>Now, Eckie, life is unfair, realize it and move on. If you can fix part of your problems, then go ahead. But, in the mean time, focus your energy on something more productive.</p>
<p>I've found that sometimes it's kind of nice to just stress about things that you have no control over. The people around you get really ***ed off about it, but it's a good way to keep yourself from getting over stressed about little things, I think. I think I complain about *something everyday which is probably really annoying but I'm the most relaxed person in most of my classes so it must be working.</p>
<p>The cheating in my school is disgusting. Sure there's the handing off of homework, but there's also blatent copying and pasting from google sites and turning in for AP Euro Papers. The buying of teacher editions of books from Amazon complete with answers. Some teachers give two day tests ,where you get the entire test the frist day - students would spend the whole first day copying down the test, bring their copied version home, figure out and compare answers, then come in with their own answers on paper. The list goes on and on. </p>
<p>I've accepted that life is unfair, but that doesnt mean I have to be happy about it.</p>
<p>I was ranked 5th for a while, now I'm 4th I think. Ranked behind 2 people who never stop studying, so I dont mind them.</p>
<p>Its the one that used/uses his calculator to get through every class that I have my problems with... I hate cheaters.</p>
<p>And no, nobody knows that all pre-calc classes arent created equally... i totally understand on that one. I was the only person ranked in the top 10 who had the 'bad' pre-calc teacher. I was upset to say the least, but I pulled off a respectable grade and got her to write my rec for Penn. So it all worked out.</p>
<p>We're all dealt ****ty hands in HS, everyone seems to be doing something unethical, immoral... anything to raise that GPA.</p>
<p>My motto these past 3 years was to just educate myself, take the classes I really wanted to learn about (regardless of if it was HONORS or AP or not) and really =EDUCATE= myself. I cant say I graduated 1st in my class, but I certainly am the most educated person coming out of my class, in my opinion (also the opinion of my valedictorian)</p>
<p>Its nice to have your VAL telling people that the smartest person he knows is AJ.</p>
<p>Honest work will pay off in the long run Eckie.</p>
<p>-Aj</p>
<p>EDIT: I'd also like to add that this is my 69th post. He he he . Filth...</p>
<p>give eckie a break. having played several soccer games at private schools, attitudes like that **** me off. but eckie's not like that. and it's wrong to assume so right off the bat, as well.</p>
<p>City. If you want to bring mommies into this, didnt your mother ever teach you that if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all?</p>
<p>I shouldnt HAVE to explain myself, but I dropped my passion - soccer - at the end of 8th grade - and picked up a JOB. Yes. a Job. 16 hours a week. In order to give myself a private school education. And at the moment, all it seems like is its hurting my chances of getting into the college of my dreams</p>
<p>So go take your assumptions and make yourself look ignorant in some other thread.</p>
<p>go eckie! i didn't know that, but i hope you put that in your essays. very impressive.</p>
<p>and yes, you're a senior and you're allowed to ***** and moan.....as long as you don't dis public school in an arrogant way that pulls you toward that private school stereotype (which i don't think you really did)</p>
<p>edit: it kinda makes me feel like my 92's would be B+'s in private school, by your logic. that's just not true, though. if it was tougher, i'd just put more effort into it. if i were in private school for 4 years, my GPA would be higher. don't forget either, that while the work you're doing now is harder than public school, you're also more prepared, and thus without that prep you grades may just as well be the same at ps 197</p>
<p>1) gender confusion
2) what is wrong with you? (city) i don't what happened that you're so mad at the world, but you just need to relax and start pretending like you have a tiny bit of common decency in you</p>